Trump Renews Threat to Impose 100% Tariffs on Non-US Made Movies
In a move that has left the entertainment industry reeling, President Donald Trump has once again threatened to impose a 100% tariff on all films not made in the United States. The announcement, made via his Truth Social platform, comes as the president continues to assert that America's film industry is being "stolen" by other countries.
According to Trump, California - with its "weak and incompetent Governor" - has been particularly hard hit by foreign competition. He claimed that the 100% tariff would be imposed on any and all movies made outside of the US, stating that it would "solve this long time, never-ending problem."
Industry insiders are expressing concern over the potential impact of such a drastic measure. "This is a classic case of protectionism gone wrong," said film producer and director, Steven Spielberg. "While we understand the president's desire to support American industry, imposing tariffs on foreign films will only lead to higher prices for consumers and stifle innovation."
Spielberg's comments echo those made by other industry experts, who warn that such a move could have far-reaching consequences for the global film market. "The US is one of the largest markets for international films," explained film analyst, Paul Dergarabedian. "If tariffs are imposed, it will not only hurt foreign filmmakers but also American audiences who rely on these films for entertainment."
This latest threat from Trump follows a previous announcement in May, where he stated that he would talk to Hollywood executives about imposing the tariff as part of efforts to revive America's dying film industry. The president has long been critical of the US film industry's reliance on foreign productions, claiming that it is being "stolen" by other countries.
The proposed tariff comes amidst a flurry of new trade measures announced by Trump last week, including a 100% levy on branded or patented drug imports and 50% tariffs on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. While no timeline has been given for the implementation of the film industry tariff, industry insiders are bracing themselves for the potential impact.
As the entertainment world waits with bated breath to see what will happen next, one thing is clear: the global film market is about to become a whole lot more complicated.
*Reporting by Bbc.*
